v.; also 4–6 attempre, (4 entempre). [a. OF. atempre-r, atremper (mod. attremper):—L. attemperāre, f. at- = ad- to + temperāre to temper, qualify, arrange, regulate.]
1. To qualify by admixture; to modify or moderate by blending with something of different or opposite quality; to temper.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 201. Which [justice], for to escheue cruelte, He mote attempre with pite.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 44/2. The love attempered the sorow.
1528. Paynell, Salerne Regim., L iiij b. A lyttell pellitorie and persly, to attempre the coldenes of the forsayde thynges.
1666. J. Smith, Old Age (ed. 2), 20. There is scarce any condition so evil, that is not attempered with some good.
1762. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 315. The most perfect taste in architecture, where grace softens dignity, and lightness attempers magnificence.
1851. Trench, Poems, 27. If sweet with bitter, pleasure with annoy, Were not attempered still.
2. To modify the temperature of; to make (air, etc.) warmer or colder.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., I. i. 8. What attempriþ þe lusty houres of þe fyrste somer sesoun.
1658. Evelyn, Fr. Gard. (1675), 87. You may give them a gentle stove, and attemper the air with a fire of charcoal.
1717. Pope, Eloisa to Abel., 63. Those smiling eyes attempering every ray.
1846. Hawthorne, Mosses, I. i. 3. The shadow of the willow tree … attempered the cheery western sunshine.
3. To moderate, mitigate, assuage (passion or harshness); to soothe, mollify, appease (the excited person).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melibeus, ¶ 548. The angry man maketh noyses, and the pacient man attempereth and stilleth him.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 206/4. Cezar, amende thy maners and attempre thy commaundementis.
1494. Fabyan, VI. clxxxii. 180. He somwhat attempred his fury and crueltie.
1625. Bacon, Anger, Ess. (Arb.), 565. How the … Habit, To be Angry, may be attempred, and calmed.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 87/1. The genius of Numa … softening and attempering the fiery dispositions of his people.
1882. Shorthouse, J. Inglesant, lxxvi. II. 3. The wild passions and deeds of men are so attempered and adjusted.
4. To restrain, control, govern. Also refl. ? Obs.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 164. Entempre þou beter þy tonge.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 333. Attempre thy corage Fro wrath.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 40. Attemper you from covetise.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Mark iv. 24. Always attempering thy self as much as thou canst.
5. To regulate, control, order, arrange. arch.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. i. 111. Þere haldeþ þe lorde of kynges þe ceptre of his myȝt and attempereþ þe gouernementes of þis worlde.
1539. Cranmer, in Strype, Cranmer (1694), App. 244. The Holy Ghost hath so ordered and attempered the Scriptures.
1662. More, Antid. Ath., II. ii. (1712), 43. Its Motion and Posture would be so directed and attemper’d, as we … would have it to be.
1788. ‘A. Pasquin,’ Childr. Thespis (1792), 115.
| In arch ESTIFANIA, by thinking refin’d, | |
| She moves and attempers the springs of the mind. |
6. To make fit or suitable to; to accommodate or adapt in quality to. Also refl.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 87. There may no welth ne pouerte Attempren hem to the deserte Of buxomnesse.
1545. Joye, On Daniel v. H viij b. They wolde attemper and drawe Gods worship and religyon unto their own profites.
1656. Trapp, Comm. Matt. xi. 17. Attempering their discourses to the hearers’ capacities.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 128. God often attempers Himself and His oracles to the condition of men.
b. intr. (for refl.) To adapt oneself to. rare.
1809. J. Barlow, Columb., II. 85. The tribes … attempering to the clime, Still vary downward with the years of time.
7. To attune, bring into harmony. Const. to.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., June, 8. Byrds of euery kynde To the waters fall their tunes attemper right.
1633. P. Fletcher, Poet. Misc., 55. All in course their voice attempering.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IV. 24. High airs, attemper’d to the vocal strings.
1879. H. N. Hudson, Shaks., 36. Horatio hits the key-note of the part, and attempers us to its influences.
8. To temper (metal).
1869. Eng. Mech., 20 Aug., 488/3. The process of hardening steel is called tempering or attempering.
